E-sports, indie games, cosplay: GameStart Asia in Singapore through the eyes of a first-time visitor
One of the largest gaming conventions on the continent, GameStart celebrates everything fresh and trendy in the industry. We sent our reporter there to do battle with dragons, alien beings, invisible beasts – and obsessive fans
Cyberpunk soldiers in full battle gear march confidently through darkened corridors, armed with futuristic rifles fully locked and loaded. Nearby, an anime princess with flowing blue hair and a huge sword stands ready for combat. Over in the corner is Spider-Man, crouching over his phone with his mask off, his wiry teenage frame in stark contrast to his bald Asian head.
I have just arrived at GameStart Asia in Singapore, one of the largest gaming conventions in Asia. A weekend-long annual event, it can attract up to 20,000 people.
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Like other gaming conventions around the world, GameStart is a celebration of everything fresh and trendy in the gaming industry – alongside a heavy dose of cosplay theatrics.
Held last weekend at the Suntec Singapore convention centre, GameStart Asia is now in its fourth year and gets bigger with every iteration. Since starting out in a single small hall, the event has mushroomed, Mario-like, to fill three massive ones, each dedicated to a different interest. Video games take up the most space, with sections loosely mapped out for new technologies (such as VR), e-sports, indie releases and retro games.
“I really wanted to put together a convention that I, myself as a gamer, would want to go to, something close to E3 in LA or a Tokyo game show,” says GameStart founder Elicia Lee. “It’s exceeded expectations. This was a really ambitious project – we wanted to be an event for anyone who loves games and gaming to be able come down, meet friends and do what they love.”
